The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27
MONEY THROWN AWAY.
INTERPRETATIONS FOR RIVER AND
HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
An Engineer offlcer Explains the Pros
ent System OF Robbery and Joooery
How a Better Condition Of Things
May be Attained.
From the New York Evening Post


on the subject of our ridiculous river and
harbor legislation, produced the following
clear outline, which may be commended TO
readers OF the Evening POST
The question of river and harbor improve.
mcnt is one of perennial interest, yet about
no portion of Che governmental machinery,
perhaps, is so little known by the public
The matter Is not complex nor difficult. To
show its simplicity, suppose that city or
town desires to improve its water facilities
possibly in the real interest OF commerce,
perhaps in the interest of some local boss
or company Of bosses. The first thing is TO
approach the leading politician of the dis
trict and induce him TO request their con
gresham to secure the passage Of rcsolu-
ton in Congress requesting the Secretary OF
War To cause the river or hurbor IN question
to be surveyed. The resolution passed, the
secretary orders examination made, aud II
that be favorable survey follows, and nm
estimate of the cost Of the proposed improve
mcnt is prepared, which estimate is trans
mittcd by the Secretary Of War to Congress,
and nm appropriation mayappcar In the next
river and harbor bill. The money, once ap.
prapriated goes TO the engineer corps for
| disbursement This II a bureau OF the war
department having charge Of all public
works dgIgncd for the improvement Of
rivers ~ harbo-,. II is composed ot
| officers ~ engineers with usually two
/ civil engineers To each district In practice
the whole line OF coast is divided into dis
/ trict,, each defined by geographical limits
/ and put In charge of an engineer officer not
| below the rank of captain. The money gp-
| prupriat,d L. always expended hy thc cngi-
uccr department, In almost every cas-" hon
cstly, hat not always economically The
/ johhcry, II any, lies away hnck of this with
/ the Congress, which order. the survey
Oj courc there are 'joh,.' The notebook
| of every working engineer /, fun ct thym.
| The funniest hat ! remember occurred iu
| South Carolina last year. The river and hIr-
| hpr hill uI l>,f directed ihH war department
! 90 examine AMI survey Clark. crock nll
l Ningl cTrrk iu that state ana appropriated
I S15.OD for that purpp,. Lieut. Abbott
/ went down iD make the survey. but uu one
I had ever heard of Glars Ur Nngu they were
| nn, down ON thc department map,. How
| ever Abbott began search among Tie
/ creeks and iulcts uf 'hU ,Hl.D llc prut -'N-
/ Dal wpHk, u that labyrinth questioning
| u'ruv, and whites without RESULT luu 90
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